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2015 | Volume X Est. 1922 A CITY ON THE MOVE A publication of the Besssemer Area Chamber of Commerce West Jefferson Internal Medicine Wallace B. Purdy, MD Reid S. Christopher, MD Graduate of UAB School of Medicine Graduate of UAB School of Medicine Board Certified Internal Medicine Board Certified Internal Medicine Reid S. Christopher, MD Wallace B. Purdy, MD Board Certified, Internal Medicine Ground Level Parking On-Site Lab & Bone Density Screening Bessemer Medical Building 1088 9th Avenue SW • Bessemer • 35022 • 426-0546 Members of the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce & Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Four Years in the Making: Building 10 A Better Bessemer Business is Booming 18 Investment by the business community is at an all time high. Milestones 26 Reflecting Over 20 Years Service of Sarah Belcher in the Bessemer community. Investing in Better Health 30 Bessemer area hospital: Medical West is expanding. TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome Business Education & Culture 5 Letter from the Board 18 Milo’s Tea Co. Goes Nationwide 34 A New Sound in the City Bessemer City Schools 1:1 Digital Initiative 7 New to Bessemer (Map) 20 A Koch Family Tradition 35 Life Mosaic: A Book Review 22 Autobahn Indoor Speedway City Comes to Bessemer Partner With Us 9 A City on the Move Environment 37 Directory 32 A Better Way to Recycle 52 Corporate Sponsors 33 Every Drop Counts WANT TO CONTRIBUTE This is a publication of the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce. Mail letters and story ideas to Bessemer Area Chamber, 321 18th Street North, Bessemer, Alabama 35020. .bessemerchamber.com . Copyright 2015 by Bessemer Area Chamber of Com- merce. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: This book is for informational and promotional purposes only. Bessemer Chamber in no way warrants or guarantees any information contained herein. All pictures not taken by staff of Chamber are used by permission. 4 Welcome! The Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce is one of the most historic chambers in the United States and is proud to enter its 93rd year of supporting businesses and the surrounding community. Thank you for picking up a copy of the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce | Bessemer Magazine 2015 | Magazine. In this publication, you will find several articles about great happenings Published by here in the Bessemer area. From the expansion of services by the City of Bessemer Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce to the location of new businesses within our community, we are excited to share Publisher: Roderick J. Evans with you some of the things ahead in our community. Layout/Design: Sandra Slate Contributing Writers: Filled with examples of the strong foundation of city government and local busi- Sarah Belcher, Alan Gurganus, nesses, this edition will also highlight health, environment, and other education Toraine Norris, Dr. Erline Patrick Advertising Sales: Latasha Cook & culture happenings in the Bessemer area. Businesses are thriving here, and our Administration: Mary Milan area continues to draw people from across the country because of stable govern- Printing/Production: Craftsman ment, low-cost of living, ease of access to three interstates, and the industry sup- Printing port necessary to make your business successful. Contact: Debbie Patton 120 Citation Court, Birmingham, AL The Mission of the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote the eco- 35209 205.945.4157 nomic well-being of regional businesses and represent the business community in economic, political, civic, educational, and cultural development of the region. For Membership Information Our first priority is to assist the community in economic growth by inviting new Contact: employers and helping existing industries expand. Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce 321 18th Street N., Bessemer, AL 35020 The City of Bessemer is experiencing a period of unparalleled growth and expan- 205.425.3253 | fax: 205.425.4979 sion that we are excited to be a part of, and we invite you to join in. The Bessemer www.bessemerchamber.com Area Chamber of Commerce is here to provide you with information and person- ©2015 Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce alized service to meet your needs. We are located in Historic Downtown Besse- mer at 321 18th Street North. Come by to visit us, contact us at (205) 425-3253, or visit our website: bessemerchamber.com for more information on how we can partner with you. Eric Messer 2015 Chairman of the Board Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce 5 6 New to Bessemer? Nestled in the Jones Valley at the end of the foothills of the Appalachian Chain, Bessemer sits strategically along Interstate 59/20 and is centrally located to the econom- ic centers of Birmingham, Hoover, Tuscaloosa and the Mercedes Plant in Vance. The Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area where our city is located is home to over 1 million people. In recent years, Dollar General, Amsted Rail, U.S. Pipe, Shoals Ambulance, J.B. Processing, Steyr Arms and others have located facilities within our city. Where Bessemer once thrived through iron ore manufacturing, the city is now home to a diverse blend of industry and companies. Please note this quick reference of the most requested items: AIRPORT: The Bessemer Airport is one of the city’s gems and preferred The University of Alabama, UAB, Miles College, Birmingham-Southern College, destination for small plane traffic.Mitchell Field is a short drive from downtown Samford University and Montevallo College are all within a short drive of Bessemer. Bessemer, Birmingham and Hoover. 900 Mitchel Field Road, Bessemer, Alabama MEDICAL FACILITIES: 35022, (205) 424-7234 Medical West Hospital, an affiliate of the UAB Health System. 995 9th Avenue South- BESSEMER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: west, Bessemer, AL 35022 (205) 481-7000. Emergencies dial 911. Brookwood Medical 321 18th Street North, Bessemer, Al 35020, (205) 425 - 3253 Center, 2010 Brookwood Medical Center Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209, (205) 877-1998, BESSEMER LIBRARY: Middle Creek Medical Center, PC, 4810 Bell Hill Road, Bessemer, AL 35020, (205) 426- 400 19th Street North, Bessemer, AL 35020, (205) 428-7882 3737 CITY OF BESSEMER: MUSEUM: Bessemer Hall of History 1905 Alabama Avenue, Bessemer, AL Administrative – Mayor’s Office, Building & Inspections, City Clerk & Treasurer, -Of 35020, (205) 426-1633 fice of the City Council, Economic Development, GIS/Information Technology, and RECREATION: Revenue Department-1800 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer, Alabama 35020 (205) Alabama Splash Adventure Water & Theme Park 4599 Visionland Parkway, Besse- 424-4060 mer, AL 35022, (205) 481-4750 City Attorney – 1826 3rd Avenue North, Suite 200, (205) 432-0270 City of Bessemer’s Frank House Municipal Golf Course - 801 Golf Course Road, Besse- Civic Center – 1130 9th Avenue SW, Bessemer, Alabama 35022 (205) 424-7469 mer, AL 35022 - (205) 424-9540. Also in the area are Bent Brook Golf Club 7900 Dickey Springs Road – Bessemer – (205) 428-1999; Woodward Golf & Country Club – 2141 Fire - 1111 2nd Avenue North, (205) 428-5151, if emergency dial 911 Wheel Drive – Bessemer – (205) 428-0307; and Robert Trent Jones at Oxmoor Valley Fleet Maintenance - 1121 15th Avenue North, (205) 425-3291 -100 Sunbelt Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35211 - (205) 942-1177 Municipal Court - 23 North 15th Street, (205) 426-8602 Historic Tannehill State Park is just a short drive from downtown. 12632 Confeder- ate Parkway, McCalla, AL 35111 - (205) 477-5711. Police - 23 North 15th Street, (205) 481-4351, if emergency dial 911 Premiere Cinema 14 – Tannehill 4801 Promenade Parkway - Box Office: (205) 428- Parks & Recreation - 100 14th Street South, (205) 428-1124 4401 Public Improvements – 1205 15th Avenue North, (205) 424-4084 RESTAURANTS & SHOPPING: Utilities – Electric & Water Service – 1600 1st Avenue North, (205) 481-4333 See Directory beginning on page 37 for complete restaurant listing. EDUCATION: Promenade Tannehill off Exit 1 on I459, 4933 Promenade Pkwy, Bessemer, AL 35022 Bessemer Board of Education – 1621 5th Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020, (205) (includes Target, Publix, JcPenney, among other shops and various eateries); Other 432-3000 shopping available at Exit 108 on I-20/50 includes Walmart, ALDI, various hotels and Lawson State Community College – Bessemer Campus - 1100 Ninth Avenue SW, eateries Bessemer, AL 35022, (205) 925-2515 With a mix of shopping, world-class restaurants, churches, recreational and enter- ITT Tech - 6270 Park South Drive, Bessemer, AL 35022, (800) 488-7033 tainment attractions, Bessemer is a place to explore. Please review the directory listing for other great places to visit. Bessemer Academy - 1705 Fourth Ave., SW, Bessemer, AL 35022, (205) 428-4545 7 1886. The town of Bes- semer, Alabama was born. Iron and 1886steel magnate Henry Fairfield DeBar- deleben founded Bessemer, and his dream was to make Bessemer a city steel center that would attract compa- nies and people from all over the Unit- ed States. 1887. DeBardeleben bought 4,000 acres of land and marked A 1887off blocks for a new town along the rail lines of the Alabama Great South- ern Railway. Sir Henry Bessemer, who invented the open-hearth method of steel producing and revolutionized the CITY steel industry, was chosen as the town’s namesake. Soon the dream of DeBar- deleben began to take shape and the ON THE newly incorporated “City of Bessemer” as we know it today began. Deemed as the “Marvel City” because of its phenomenal growth and expan- sion, Bessemer became the fourth larg- est city in Alabama by the 1920s. For MOVE the full story visit the Bessemer Hall of History Museum at 1905 Alabama Avenue. Fast-forward more Fast-than 129 years from the city’s birth and Bessemer is well on its way. Businesses have come from around the world, and the economy is strong. The stage has forwardbeen set to once again accomplish new milestones like never seen before. The air is full of excitement. The sun rises and sets on Bessemer and we begin the return to its glory days.
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